Store



F. J. FLORENCE.

STORE.

APPLICATION FILED 1106.21. 1921-.

L 2. 9 1T an 0 2H wn D 8 d2 nu H w a P I. F lorenee j F. J. FLORENCE.

STORE.

- I APPLICATION FILED AUG-27,1921- 1,400,948. Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

usrren srarss FRANK J2 FLORENCE, O15 PENSACOLA,

T sronn.

Ldtlth dd.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Bee. 2th 1921.

Application filed August 27, 1921. Serial No. 495,571.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK J. FLORENCE, a citizen. of the United States,residing at Pensacola, in the county of Escambia and State of Florida,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Store, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention. relates to a store and has for its principal object toprovide a structure whereby customers may wait upon themselves in aneflicient manner and conveniently without the assistance of clerks.

Another object of the invention is to will be simple and capable ofbeing manufactured (at acomparatively low cost and one which will beeiiicient and reliable in operation.

With the above and numerous other objects in view the invention consistsin certain novel features of construction and the arrangement andcombination of parts as will behereinafter more fully explained andclaimed.

. In the drawing Figure 1 is a top plan view of a store embodying myinvention, and

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the article container and displayer.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that 1 designate aroom or store generally having the entrance 2 situated at any convenientplace. A partition 3 is disposed transversely across the store 1intermediate 1ts ends and is provided with anintermediate curved portion1- which is sutficiently high to prevent the customers from entering therear of the store and yet allow them to see clearly thereover and reachthereover for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully explained. A curvedtable 5 is situated adjacent the curved portion 1 of the partition 3 andpreferably a plurality of containers such as baskets will be placedthereon for the use of the customer. A plurality of similar tables darearranged concentric with the curved portion a so as to form an aisle 7.1

A rotatable displaying and article containing mechanism is disposedwithin "the rear of the store 1'so that a portion thereof will be withinthe area formed by the curved portion 4. This mechanism. includes arotary supporting member 8 which extends vertically from and isrotatable in a suitable bearing 9 fixed to the floor. A collar 10 isfixed to the member 8. by means of a bolt 11 .or in any other suitablemanner and supports a rotary table 12 thereon which is braced by meansofthe" rods 13 and the adjustable rods s which are provided. with turnbuckles 15. Theupper ends of these rods are fixed in a disk 16 which issuitably fixed to and braced on the upper end. of the member 8. Aplurality of tables 17 are fixed at regular intervals along the member 8and rest on the collars 18 and are braced by the adjustable rods 14which pass therethroughQ It will be noted that these tables 1'7 growsmaller toward the top of the member 8. The table 12 is much larger thanthe other tables 17 and is adapted to hold heavier articles and istherefore provided with the serie of brackets 19 each of which consistsof a pair of spaced apertured cars 26 .in which are .journaled therollers 21 which ride on the track 22 which is circular and mounted onthe supports 23 which are held in rigid engagement with the track andalso with each other through a circular brace ring 24. A beveled gear 25is keyed to the member 8 adjacent its bottom end and is in mesh with thebeveled pinion 26' mounted on a shaft 27 which is suitably journaled inthe supports 28. The other end of the shaft 27 is provided. with apulley wheel 30 over which is trained a belt 31. This belt 31 is drivenby a pulley wheel 32 mounted on a shaft 33 journaled in the brackets34-. This shaft 33 may be rotated in any suit able manner.

In one of the forward corners of the store 1 there is preferablysituated a curved desk 35 having an entrance 36 to the rearthereoif. Acashier is situated in behind this desk 35. The customers enter thestore through the entrance 1 and go to the table 5 and obtain a basketor other container therefrom. They then pass in to the aisle 7 and asthe play mechanism is rotating they select articles they desire andplace them in the container which they may conveniently rest upon one ofthe tables 6. After having purchased what they desire they then pass tothe desk and the articles in the basket are checked up by the cashierand payment duly made by the customer. Of course it Wlll be understoodthat there may be several of the displaying mechanisms if so desiredarranged in a convenient manner and Well within the scope of the presentinvention. The disclosure in the accompanying drawings and describedabove refer to the preferred embodiment of the-invention and of coursevarious changes may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is 1. In a storeof the class described, a rotary displaying mechanism, a partitionarranged transversely of the store and provided .with a curved portionarranged concentrically with the'rotary displaying mech anism andencircling a portion thereof.

, 2; In combination, a store, a partition arranged transversely thereofand provided with a curved intermediate portion, a 'dis playingmechanism situated in the rear of the store so as to be partly encircledby the curved portion of the partition, and a plurality of curved tablesarranged concentrically and .in close proximity to the semicircularportion of the partition.

3. A displaying mechanism of the class described comprising a rotarysupporting member, a plurality of tables mounted thereon, rollers on oneof the tables, a circular track for engaging the rollers, means forrotating the supports, and a plurality of rods connected to one'of theend tables, passing through the other tables and attached to the rotarysupporting member.

4. In combination, a store, a partition arranged transversely of thestore and provided with a curved intermediate portion, a displayingmechanism partly encircled by 'the curved portion, a plurality of curvedtables arranged concentric with the curved portion and slightly spacedtherefrom so as to form an aisle, and a cashiers desk dis.- posed in oneof the forward corners of the store.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. FLORENCE. lVitnesses:

ALBERT S. MACK, CONRAD H. YOUNG.

